Grochau appointed DU chief administrative and financial officer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Nov. 8, 2013 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) announced today that Earl Grochau, former vice president and corporate controller for Gaylord Entertainment Company based in Nashville, Tenn., will be joining the organization as DU's new chief administrative and financial officer beginning in December. He will be replacing longtime DU CAO/CFO Randy Graves, who is retiring this November after serving in that capacity for 21 years.

"We are excited Earl will join Ducks Unlimited to assist us in accomplishing our conservation mission," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "He brings with him an outstanding portfolio of professional and executive leadership, accounting and audit skills and a wealth of financial and administrative experience to our team."

Including his work at Gaylord Entertainment, Grochau has more than 20 years of experience in accounting and financial management, also holding positions with Arthur Andersen LLP, Promus Companies Inc. and Harrah's Entertainment Inc. Grochau, a certified public accountant, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Accountancy and a Master of Business Administration from Mississippi State University.

As CAO/CFO, Grochau will oversee day-to-day operations for Ducks Unlimited and direct human resources, legal, auditing and reporting systems and projects for the non-profit wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization. He will also play an important role in developing administrative and financial strategy and guiding the organization's planning and implementation protocols and processes in the future.

"I am very excited to join Ducks Unlimited, and honored to be a part of the executive team that will help steer this world-class conservation organization toward a bright future," Grochau said. "I look forward to getting started and contributing my skills and experience to help ensure the continued success of Ducks Unlimited."

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.